Arsene Wenger says those who have written-off Arsenal’s title hopes are ‘stupid’ and called on fans to get behind the team despite the damaging defeat by Liverpool.

The Frenchman is coming under fire over the manner of the 4 – 0 defeat at Anfield, following a summer which had promised big change but delivered very little.

Fans are already preparing to protest against the regime but Wenger has urged for calm and is backing his team to mount a title challenge this season.

Wenger told beIN Sports: “People always make their mind up very quickly.

“And the players forget always very quickly how good you are, you know, much quicker than you think.

“And we have to continue to believe in our strength and as well not to forget. And our fans as well you know.

“To have a successful season we need our fans. And our fans can say. ‘OK we’re not good enough our squad is not good enough And think, OK, we have no chance this year.’ That will not work.

“We want our fans to be behind us in this moment, as well. Even if we are very sorry for what we delivered.

“But to have a successful season we need to have that. And let’s not forget not one and a half months ago we won the community shield, we won the cup and In a very convincing way with the same players.

“What we learnt from this defeat [Liverpool] is that we were not at all at the level that is expected from us. And that we have very quickly to show that was a complete accident.

“And I would say as well, that when we spoke about the transfer period before they played a part in that as well.

“A top level sportsman is a guy who keeps going where others give up and that’s what would be absolutely stupid, to say, today, that you give up for the rest of the championship.”